A Mexican man, Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, has been sentenced to prison for illegally reentering the United States after being briefly released from incarceration. This follows his involvement in a drunk driving accident that resulted in the deaths of two California teenagers.
Ortega-Anguiano had served three and a half years of a ten-year sentence for the crash that killed Anya Varfolomeyev and Nikolai Osokin in November 2021. He was initially released in July of last year but was soon apprehended by federal authorities.
Recently, U.S. District Judge John Holcomb handed down a sentence of three years and ten months in federal prison for Ortega-Anguiano’s unlawful reentry into the country. His defense attorney indicated that he would likely face deportation once his prison term is completed.
In the incident that led to the tragic loss of the two teens, Ortega-Anguiano had crashed his vehicle into Barfolomeyev’s car while driving under the influence and without a valid driver’s license.
During the sentencing, the judge factored in time already served and good behavior, reducing his original sentence of ten years and ten days. This leniency drew ire from the families of the victims. Varfolomeyev’s father criticized the disparity, sharing his immigration experience to underscore the difference between legal and illegal entry into the country.
Additionally, Ortega-Anguiano pleaded guilty in October for his illegal reentry and, during the court proceedings, expressed his remorse, stating, “I pray for your forgiveness every day.”
